Art students packed the guidance office conference room Tuesday, Dec. 12 to see a presentation from the Kansas City Art Institute about all of the opportunities at their private school.

The institute’s mission is to prepare gifted students to transform the world creatively with design and art. The college was founded in 1885 and has on average around 75 faculty teachers and around 700 students.

KCAI has 13 majors offered in the Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) program, so you can learn in every possible way about art and get 75 studio credits, 39 liberal arts credits, and six open elective credits, and a bachelor in fine arts.

The first year is the Foundation Program. They have animation, ceramics, fiber, sculptures, painting, illustration, graphic design, printmaking, photography, filmmaking, product design and also business management and marketing. In the fiber class for example, you would be going to a farm and getting your own material and then you would learn how to create a pattern.

“I like all the different programs and the way they build it up. They cater towards what you are going to use in the real world,” junior Rachel Church said, who attended the presentation. 

At KCAI, you get a lot of studio space with personalized space, according to Nick Sparger, who is an admissions counselor at the institute and talked to LHS students.

“You have to be proactive in taking advantage of the tools given,” Sparger said.   

KCAI gives the opportunity for at least one internship at major companies such as Hallmark, Nickelodeon and many more, and also to participate in public engagement events. So that is great to already to collect experience. They help to provide scholarships, grants, loans, student employment, and other financial aid programs.

What do you need to get in? The KCAI wants a portfolio prep with 10 to 15 images of your best work and a GPA of 3,44 at least, and they don’t require SAT scores. 

There are some recognizable names who have attended KCAI.

Walt Disney took Saturday drawing classes at the art institute. Other notable alumni were: Paul Briggs (illustration), Kim White (photography), Dennis Hopper (filmmaking), Robert Rauschenberg (painting).

If you have more questions about the Kansas City Art Institute, contact Nick Sparger (admissions counselor) at [email protected].